People

South Africa's 'born-frees' come of age

South Africa's "born frees" - a nickname for those born in the year of the country's first free elections - turn 18 this year, coming of age at the same time as a democratic SA. While they acknowledge the importance of remembering the struggle, the future is where their focus lies.

Musa Njoko: 17 years and going strong

Nomusa Njoko is not only one of South Africa's most sought-after gospel artists. She's also one of the country's best-known Aids activists - and someone who's now been living with HIV for 17 years.

South Africa reaches 50-million

South African kids support their national football team

South Africa's population has passed the 50-million mark, according to Statistics SA's mid-year estimate for 2011, which puts the country's population at 50.59-million.

Playing a part to give youth a future

Nomthandazo Radebe from Escourt in KwaZulu-Natal is helping young people gain much-needed work experience by giving them positions in her small sewing business and arranging internships at various companies.

The boy who sees in pictures

"Captain" Kgaugelo Mabjwe is one of eight students of the Umuzi Photo Club, based in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, who are currently exhibiting their work at the prestigious Gallery@Oxo on London's South Bank.

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World Cup passion

Ordinary South Africans, uniting as never before, were the real heroes of 2010.

Population

Over 50-million people and a wide variety of cultures, languages and beliefs.

Languages

Of 11 official languages, English is the most spoken in commercial public life – but only sixth most spoken at home.

Nelson Mandela

Find out more about one of the great moral and political leaders of our time.

What is ubuntu?

The Zulu world "ubuntu" translates roughly as "humanity towards others". But it means much more than this. The spiritual foundation of African societies, ubuntu involves a belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all of humanity, a unifying worldview best captured by the Zulu maxim umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu - "a person is a person through other persons".